Ukrainians can enter Russia and Belarus without an international passport. At the same time getting a Shengen visa is a messy procedure which is often followed by absurd incidents. This situation influences badly EU’s image in Ukraine, The Economist says

A new report by the U.S. State Department’s Office of the Inspector General says organized fraud rings masquerading as travel agencies have taken control of the Diversity Visa program in Ukraine (more known in Ukraine as Green Card). Voice of America website reports.

A strict, often brutal visa regime for Ukrainians will hardly stop criminals or potential illegal migrants from getting to the EU. Instead, it may undermine effective business, academic and cultural contacts

Ukrainian journalists, civil society representatives, NGOs and young people will find it easier to get short-stay visas for trips to the EU thanks to visa deals backed by EP on Thursday, says the statement of the institution.

Visegrad states could play a special role in promoting the liberalization of EU visa requirements for its eastern neighbours, Marta Jaroszewicz, senior research fellow at Centre for Eastern Studies, notes in her article for Visegradrevue.

The Russian foreign minister claimed that Ukraine was planning an "armed provocation" in the coming weeks. Moscow-Kyiv relations have continued to deteriorate after Russia seized three Ukrainian ships at sea